Multi-faceted solid geometrical puzzle toy

Abstract

A multi-faceted solid geometrical puzzle toy includes a generally spherical base member and a plurality of tile members secured to the exterior of the base member, each tile member comprising one facet of the solid. In one embodiment, a plurality of regular pentagonal members are secured to the sphere in equally spaced apart relationship, the pentagonal members being raised from the surface of the sphere. The tile members include flanges extending laterally from inner portions thereof to be retained between the base member and the pentagonal members in translatable fashion. The gaps between adjacent pentagonal members define tracks in which the tile members may translate. The tile members include planar outer faces having linear edge portions disposed to impinge upon like linear edge portions of adjacent tile members to define a regular polyhedron, such as an icosahedron. In another embodiment, the pentagonal members are rotatable, and the tile members are disposed between adjacent pentagonal members and are rotatable therewith. The latter embodiment may include planar tile members and pentagonal members to define a rhombicosidodecahedron, or it may include curved tile members and pentagonal members to define a spherical solid. In another embodiment, the previously described icosahedron may be stellated by providing triangular pyramids on each of the tile faces of the icosahedron. In a special case, the stellation is in the form of a triakis icosahedron, which form allows the individual pyramids to be rotated about their apices. However, the pyramids may be made higher, thus precluding such rotation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A manually actuated puzzle toy, comprising a base member having a continuous, closed curved surface, a plurality of tile members adapted to be secured to said base member, track means formed on said surface, means on said tile members to engage said track means in translatable and rotatable fashion, said tile members having substantially identical outer edge configurations, each of said tile members including linear edge portions disposed to impinge upon like linear edge portions of adjacent tile members, a like plurality of triangular pyramids, each of said triangular pyramids extending outwardly from one of said tile members. 
     
     
       2. The puzzle toy of claim 1, wherein said pyramids define a stellated icosahedron. 
     
     
       3. The puzzle toy of claim 1, wherein said pyramids define a triakis icosahedron. 
     
     
       4. The puzzle toy of claim 1, wherein each of said linear edge portions of each tile member comprises a lower edge of the respective pyramid of the tile member. 
     
     
       5. The puzzle toy of claim 1, wherein said pyramids are equal in height, said height being sufficient to cause interference between opposed pyramid facets of adjacent tile members and prevent rotation of adjacent tile members. 
     
     
       6. The puzzle toy of claim 1, wherein said pyramids are equal in height, said height being sufficiently small to provide clearance between opposed pyramid facets of adjacent tiles and permit rotation of adjacent tile members.